The Path of Daggers: Chapter 10
Chapter 10: Changes
Val a'Shain
Characters: Perrin, Faile, Gaul, Elyas, Berelain, Aliandre, Annoura, Gallenne, Aram.
Setting: Perrin's camp near the town of Bethal in Ghealdan
Point of view: Perrin
When Perrin leaves the Wise Ones he is unsure if he gained anything. Leaving the Aiel camp he sees Gaul returning with a friend of Perrin. Elyas greets him an tells him 'mutual friends' have told him Perrin was in the area. Gaul admits in front of the Maidens that Elyas was the one that found him, not the other way around and then leaves the two of them to catch up.
Elyas asks to talk elsewhere. Once a Warder, he is not too eager to make the acquaintance of the Aes Sedai in Perrin's company. Elyas is somewhat surprised to see Perrin in charge of this small army. The wolves hadn't told him that. He's also surprised and slightly amused by the fact that Perrin married a Saldean. Elyas' advice that Perrin should raise his voice more often to Faile seems very strange to him.
Berelain returns to the camp and Perrin excuses himself. After everybody is gathered Berelain introduces Queen Aliandre of Ghealdan to him. Perrin hadn't expected that. Aliandre tells him Rand too Illian and the Seanchan Ebou Dar. Perrin wants to know if Aliandre is ready to declare her support for the Dragon Reborn. Aliandre dances around that question for a while. Then she catches Perrin totally by surprise and pledges fealty to Perrin. After a moment's hesitation he accepts. Perrin wants to know where he can find the Prophet. Aliandre says that to the best of her knowledge he is in a town called Abila in Amadicia. Faile obviously want to have a word with Aliandre so Perrin excuses himself. There is something going on in the Mayener camp anyway.
Point of view: Faile
Faile, Berelain and Annoura take Aliandre where they can have a word with her. Faile still hates Berelain with a passion but has to admit the woman knows when to put their games aside for the moment. Aliandre is obviously hoping for some tangible support from Perrin of Rand. Faile explains to her that it would be in her interest to ride with Perrin to bring the Prophet to heel. Aliandre resists at first but when Faile reminds her of the oath she took she accepts. When Faile explains how she wants to confuse the Prophet and the Ghealdan nobles about here whereabouts and activities Aliandre begins to like the plan. This part is a success for Faile. Now to contact her people in Bethal.
Point of view: Perrin
When Perrin and Gallenne reach the Mayener camp it takes a moment to find out what was going on. A Mayener patrol saw a group of Dragonsworn burn a farm with the people still inside it. They were too late to save the farm folk but the caught seven of the attackers. After hearing the report Perrin orders them hanged. After the last one stops moving a thunderstorm breaks and the first rain in months touches the ground. It stops as suddenly as it started but Aram thinks it is a sign of the weather changing. Perrin can only reply that everything changes. Even Perrin himself.
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